Mechanical filing machine



Aug. 17 192e. kwam@ R. GASPARIK' ,MECHANICAL FILING MACHINE, A

Filed May 14, 1923 4 sheets-sheet 1 v ttozwes; i

Aug. 17 1926.'y

5. GASFARIK [y MEcHANcAL FILING MACH INE Filed May 14, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @neuneu Aug. l-7 1926.

f 1,596,094 R. GASPARIK Y MECHANICAL FILING MACHINE Filed May 14, v192:5 4 sheet-sheem vktoznut Aug., 17 1926.

R. GASPARIK MECHANICAL FILI NG MACHINE Filed May 14, 1925A 4 Sheets-[Sheet 4 llI/IllII/lllllmlllllllIl Patented Aug. 17, y 1926,.

' Unirse srA'rss PATENT OFFICE.

RODOLFO GASPARIK, OF :BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

Application filed. May 14, 1923, Serial No. 639,027,

The present invention relates to a mechanical filing machine and is a continuation in part of my copending application forLetters Patent of the United States, Serial Number 622,143, filed March 1, 1923.

An important object of theinvention is to provide a machine for use with filing systems and in which any desired card or a number of cards of the same classification may be readily produced for inspection.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the machine that it can be ,readily determined whether or not a particular card is in its proper place.

A further object of the invention is to design the machine so that the receptacles in Thich the cards are carried can be placed in the machine in arbitrary sequence' and without regard to the relative position of the designation ofthe card carried thereby in the series of indiciaused. i y

Another object of the invention is to provide means to successively land selec-tively place obstructions against lateral movement of the receptacles into a position inwhich these obstructions cease to act as such.

Another' object of the invention is to -pron vide means constantly acting to shift each receptacle laterally, so that the receptacle in which the obstructions have been removed by placing them in the right position is shifted to a position different from the balance of the set of receptacles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a keyboard similar to that of a typewriter so that by depressing the keys Corresponding to the name or number on the card wanted, the obstructions are placed in the right position with regard to said card and permit movement of the same.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of means by which the designation spelled out pear and be visible through an opening in front of the machine.

A final object of the invention is the provision of means to restore the machine to initial position. Y

Further objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specitication, and in which Fig. 1 a top plan view of the m-fclfilne. y' is a side perspective vit f the "witlrtes viali reines klength and on the keyboard will ap-k MECHANICAL FILING MACHINE. f

and'in Argentina December 12, 1922.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the key levers and the cooperating plates.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the key levers and cooperating pivotally joined elements.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; y Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. c Fig'. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation'of the restoring lever.

' Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the Y releasing mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofa receptacle.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the plates actuated by the key levers.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar* numerals refer to similar parts throughout the same; the numeral-'39 indi# cates thecasing of the machine. Vrlhe casing is mounted upon a base plate 62 and the side walls of the casing are connected to the front and rear walls by means of angle irons58. A forward shaft 11 and aback shaft 13,r parallel to shaft 11,y are carried between the side walls of the casing. Y rality of bell-crank levers 10 are rotatably mounted onthe rforward shaft 11 andy an equal number of bell-crank levers 12 are rotatably carried on back .shaft 13. The bell-cranks are spaced from each other by collars 64. A plurality of rods 14k connect the lower arms ofthe bell-crank levers 10 with the lower arms of the bell-crank levers 12 and are pivotally lfastened thereto.

Thin bars or wires 15 severally connect the upper arms of the bell-crank levers of one set with the upper arms of the corresponding levers of the other set.

Each bell-crank 10 has an arcuate tab 38 projecting down from the outer end of its upper arm; the tabs 38 are of the same each carries at the outer periphery all the indicia used in the system. Each tab is movable in the rear of an opening L11 in the front wall of the casing of the machine, where a row of these openings 41 is provided.

A third cross shaft 22 is carried between the side walls of the casing parallel to and in front of the forward shaft 11 and somewhat below the latter.v A number of operating'levers 21 are rotatably mounted on shaft 22 and are spaced from each other by collars G5. These operating levers form a keyboard to operate the machine and each Alever has at Q designation or' its outer end 'or 6 1, i 41 i the 5i. system. lier ple, il alphabetical symbols are used., each key would be marked with a letter of the alphabet.

rllhe backward extending` arms 21 ot the operating levers 21 are a length con't'orming' to the relative position oit the Vdesignation of the particular operating' vlever 21 in the series ot indicia used. In the preferred form, it' the alphabetical s vstem is used, the operating.;` lever 21 w-hich carries at its key 2O the character A would have its downwardly extending' arm 2l comparatively longv as shown in Fin'. 2, while 'the backward extending arm 21 .tor 'the letter Z' would. be comparatively short, see Figs. 3 and l and the length ot the arms 21 tor levers 21 with letters ot the alphabet be- 4 tween these two extremes would be propor- Cil tionately shorter in length, from A to Z.

The backward extending` ends 2l. o the levers 21 engage plates 24: slidable in vertical direction and supported by curved longitudinal bars Each plate 2111 has a lower extension 211 having an opening 25, .F 5 and 10 into which the end ot the pertainingoperating' lever 21 extends. rThese extensions or tabs 24; are in the ditlerent plates at different distances from the lateral edges ot the plates as shown in Fini. The bars 23 are carried by brackets 59 fastened to the side walls ot the casina'. The innermost plate 2.4- cooperates with the lever 21 carrying' key A and the plate 2l close to the front wall of the casing; represents letter Z, Fig. 3. A rearwardly7 directed lip or flange 24.2 is provided at the upper edge ot each plate 24.

A cross rod 30 is mounted on a lever 30 which is pivoted on the shaft 22, and said cross rod rests on shoulders 2112 formed on the inner arms 21 oit the levers 21. Said lever 30a' is connected by a link 31, Fig'. 2, to a lever 32, rotatably carried by a bracket 56 on the base of the casing'. Pivoted to the rear end ot lever 32 is a latch 33, havin@r a number ot teeth 3B at its upper end. The latch 33 is normally pressed against a cross bar 18, by means of a spring' 311, fastened to the lever 32, so that one of the teeth engages with a tooth -l7 at the upper edge ot the cross bar 18, to hold the same in a certain position. rlie rods le have downwardly extending noses 17, consecutively increasing' in height as shown in Figs. 6 and S. A spring; 16 Jiastcued to each rod tends to pull the same toward the Vfront end ot the .u'iachiue, while the cross bar 18 in Contact with said noses 17 prevents such a movement. rille tre ents oit the springs 1G are fastened to an angle bar G1 supported by the side walls of the casing (Fig. 2). The cross bar 18 is guided in vertical slots 16 ot brackets i6 mounted on a block 4l() in the rear end ot the machine (Figs. 2 and Fastenet to the front side et block 4.0 are bent tlat springs 48 extending under the cross bar and tending to keep the same in its uppermost position. rlhe front lower corners ot the noses 17 are cut away to present square shoulders 17. At the lirst depression of a key 20, the latch and the cross bar 18 are lowered suticiently to release that bar le which has the nose 17 of the smallest height,'and at the upward movement of the latch 33, the bar 18 is kept in its lower position by a shoulder on the nose 17, ot the next rod 14, so that upon the return movement ol the key and the rod 141; the second tooth from the top ot the latch will engage the tooth at the upper edge of the cross bar 18. next bar 14e will be released when another key is depressed, etc.

Slidable extensions with terminal hooks 19 are provided on tl e lower arms of bell-crank levers 10 under control of springs 63 which are fastened Vwith one end to the said arms and with the other end to the e);- tensions l0 as shown in Fig. 2. llVhen a ke;v is depressed the hook 19 of the rod le released thereby will engage the .lip 24:2 of the trame 2awhich had been simultaneously raised by depression. otl said operating key lever 21 and the movement of the respective bell-cranks 10 and 12 and the longitudinal movement ot the connectingv rodA 14- is thereby stopped in a selectively predetermined position, the tab 38 then displaying' a correspending;` character through an opening` 41. rl`he key levers are restored to their normal position by springs 26 'fastened to the cX- tensions 2l and to a cross angle bar G0 on base plate 62 of the machine. T he returningr key lever draws the hook 19 down against the action of spring 63. Thus the wires will be held in a predetermined upward position.

A transverse plate 36 is fastened to a rock shaft 37 rotatably mounted in the side walls oli' the casinand carrying a handle 541 on the outside ot the casing. By turning the handle 54 backwards the upper bent portion of the plate 36 strikes the noses 17 orn the connecting rods 141-, which are in a 'forward position, and moves them back to their normal position, where the shoulders will be engaged by the cross bar 18. The cross bar 1O` yieldinaly supported by the springs 48, is returned by the springs to its upper normal position (Fig. 1) when released by the latch. The latter 'is swung out ot enragement, with the cross bar by 4the i Vv.

movement oi the connecting rods le, which rock a plate 35, pivotally mounted in the rear end oic the casing. whereby a downot the plate A cross rod limits plate wardly extending arm ou engages the latch 33. the movement of the hand-actuated 36 (Fig. 2).

The numeral 2'? lesignates card. tacles of which there may be any fr Consequently, the

Yio

ten being shown by way of example, each with a number of slots 42 extending from their lower edges. 'The number of slots 42 may be equal to the number 0f wires 15,. The wires are normally positioned in the lower end portions of said slots. The receptacles 27 are preferably formed of a'sheet of lightbut suitably'rigid metaland are carried by two vertical plates 28 having vertical slots to receive said receptacles. The plates 28 are carried by the upper portions of the front and rear walls of the casing (Figs. 1 and 2). The upper portion of the receptacle forms a closed casing, as shownin Fig. 9, and the front wall extends downwards and enters the vertical slots of the plates 28. A hook 44 is bent out of the front wall towards the rear to hold the card in position. A marginal portion extending from the lower left-hand corner 6, upward to a point about midway between the upper and lower horizontal edges of the receptacle 27 is cut away and the corner 45 of the card 29 held by the receptacle extends into said cutaway portion. A spring 52 fastened to the casing is provided for each receptacle 27 to press it in direction towards the opposite wall of the casing. rl`he movement of the receptacles toward this side of the casing is prevented by a movable abutment 50. This ledge has a handle 49 and another downwardly extending abutment 53 for lifting the cards. The abutment 50, 53 is rotatably mounted in the front and rear wall of the casing in holes 5 7, Fig. 2. A spring 67 fastened to an arm 66 of the abutment and to a pin 68 in the rear wall normally holds the abutment in the position shown in Fig. 6.

As has been heretofore explained, the thin bars or wires 15 carried by the respective pairs of bell-cranks 10 and 12, are moved upwards by the action of vcoil springs 16 pulling on the rods 14, when the cross bar 18 is lowered step-by-step by the depression of the key levers. Each wire moves a predetermined distance according to the key lever actuated, as the bell-cranks l() are stopped .by the hooks 19 and the frames 24- raised into the path of said hooks 19 by the operation of the key levers 21. Each wire 15 moves in a particular vertical slot 42 of the several receptacles. Horizontal slots 43 are cut in the receptacles 27 and open into the vertical slots 42. Each receptacle may have horizontal slots in as many positions as there are letters in the alphabet, and each horizontal slot is so arranged that it corresponds to the position of the wire lifted a certain height by the depression of the key levers having the letters of the name on said card. Different combinations of horizontal slots are cut in the several receptacles 27 and only one receptacle will be moved by one of the springs 52, to follow the movable lip 242 abutment 50, when this combination is met by the proper arrangement of the wires 15. All the other receptacles will beheld against lateral movement by one or several of the wires 15, which do not align with all the horizontal slots in the other receptacles. The vertical slots v42 which do not'contain horizontal slots 43 have a horizontalV cut-out portion 69 at the lower end, to permit movement ofthe card which shall be produced. The purpose of these cut-out portions '69 shall be illustrated by the following: vProvided there are two cards one with'the name Aroz and the other one with the name Aro. lf the name Aroz is spelled out on the keyboard, the fourth wire lifted into a position corresponding to the letter Z Vwill prevent movement of the card receptacle Aro, ,while at the depression of the vletters A, R,

the fourth wire which is not moved prevents lateral movement of the receptacle Aroz, as

the fourth vertical slot in that receptacle has not a cut-out portion at its lower end. The lower corner of the card 29 near the abutment 53 projects into the cutaway portion of the receptacle and is lifted by the abutment 53 after the receptacle in question has been moved sideways. be raised for inspection by spelling out the name carried by the card on the keyboard.

The operation is the following'. f

Provided a card with the name Aroz is to be produced. rEhe key 20 for the letter A would be struck first and the cross bar 18 is lowered one step to release the first connecting rod 14 which is pulled forwards by the spring 16, and simultaneously the innermost frame 24 representing the letter A is raised by the operating lever into the path of the hook 19, carried by the first bellcrank 10. The hook 19 engages the upper of the raised frame 24, and` stops the movement of the rod .14 and the first pair of bell-cranks 10 and 12'. The thin bar or wire 15 carried by the first crank levers 10,112 is thereby lifted a relatively short distance in its vertical slot 42 and registers with the horizontal slot 43, corresponding to the letter A. rlhe keys for the remaining letters in the name would each be struck in i turn and would' move the wires 15 one after the other one in their vertical slots' 42 to a predetermined 'distance whereupon the wires align with the horizontal slots 43 marked in Fig. 6 as corresponding with the 1' letters fl-t Z. rl`he wire for letter R will move a relative-ly long distance, 0 will Thus each card can` ca use a somewhat shorter movement and the wire for the letter Z will move entirely to the top of the slot 42. T he wires are in the l same position in the vertical slots 42 of all of the receptacles 27, but only one receptacle will have all its horizontal slots 43 cutoppo site the present position of the'wires Therefore, when the ledge 50 is swung out only one receptacle is caused to 'follow it. The other receptacles are kept in position by the wires l5, not in alignment with horizontal slots. lly turning handle lL-9 of the movable abutinents 50 and 58, the abutment 50 is swung to the lett 'trom the position shown in idg. G and permits lateral movement ot the card receptacles. nllhat receptacle in which the horizontal slots i3 and the cutout portions align with the wires ivill be shifted laterally by the spring 52 pressing against said receptacle. 1' 'further turning the handle ell), the ledge :,125 is brought into contact with the lower edee ot the projecting` corner L15 oi'? the card 29 to raise the latter and expose to view.

As the key ot cach opeii'atinle; ever has heen struck and the bell-cranks l0 have been moved in consecutive order, the tabs 38 carried by saiijl liell-cranks' ll have been raised, so that the letters ot the word alien with the openings ll in the front oi the casing. The letters roz are thus shown in. the openings 4l. The card .29 can be dropped back into the receptacle, amL shifted laterally into its initial position hy a reverse movement. ot the handle l'y turning` the handle oil, the connecting' rods lll are restored and the latch is swung out by mer-.ns ot the plate to release the cross bar 1S which is pressed upwards by 'the springs 4S against the upper shoulder oi: the `first connecting' rod 14. rlho movement ot the plate is limited by the cross rod rlhe plate 36 is then moved hack to its normal position and the upper tooth ot' the latch iengafges the projection l? of the cross har i8. The machine is then ready for the next operation. Vlhe receptacles shown have only Yfour slots but any number ol .slots may be employed.

A machine in which the receptacles can be ilivays readily located, Whether they are in arbitrary position or not, is thus provided and it the receptacle has the Wrong' card therein the mistake can be easily ascertained.

lvleans to hold the cards in the receptacles so that they cannot be removed therefrom past the position they assume When the top portion is exposed to vieiv by the raising ledge might o'l course be providef. lt Will also he understood that any system of indicia might be used ivith the machine and the receptacles and cards carried tiereby.

lilith only four vertical slots in the receptacles and only l0 key levers, for instance when iigures are used, 9999 combinations are possible. ris the number ol" vertical slots can be increased to l0, 20 or more, the uumber o'l combinations is practically unlimited, especially When the keyboard has 26 keys, it alphabetical symbols are used.

v l d tha-;- the forni el: l A be and changes in the size, shape and arrangement ot parts may be resorted to Without departing;q from the spirit oli the invention or the scope ot the subjoinod claims.

l claim l. A mechanical filing and classifying machine comprising` a plurality of receptacles arrano'ed for lateral movement, means for selective placing obstructions against the lateral movement of said receptacles into predetermined positions whereby certain ct' the receptacles Will be released,`and means constantly acting upon each receptacle to move that receptacle, from Which the obstructions are released, to a position different from the balance of the set ol' receptacles.

i2.- ii mechanical filing` and classifying machine con'iprisinev a plurality of key dei, puirality ot receptacles having ke fivays therein in which said key devices respe iirely are adapted to he moved, said s having' slot formations branching trom, iii-cans to inove said key devices predete nined distances in their respective lieyivays so as to coact With the slot formations in certa-.ii receptacles, and means to move said receptacles at an angle to the path ot movement ot said key devices.

il. mechanical ling Yand classifying machine comprising,Pv a plurality ot key devices, a plurality ot receptacles having keypeetirely are adapted to be moved, said 'evs having;` slot vFormations branching iii, means to move said key devices variable distances in "ieir respective keyivays so as to coact with ie slot formations in certain receptacle. and means to move said receptacles at an angle to the path oit movement of said key devices.

1hr-L mechanical tiling; and classifying machine comprising' a plurality of key devices, a plurality oi card receptacles mounted above said key devices and having keyvvays therein in ivhich said key devices are adapted to be moved, means to move said l-:ey devices predetermined distances in said keyivays, said receptacles having keyivays cut at right angles to said first-named keyivays according to the designation of the card carried thereby, and means 'to move a desired receptacle laterally ivlien said key devices are properly aligned in said Vlirst named keyivays vvith said second-named keyways.

5. A mechanical filing and classifyingv machine comprising` a: plurality of pivotally jointed groups ot' elements, a plurality of thin bars one carried by each oi' said groups of elements, selectively operated 'means to move said groups ot elements consecutvely,

i ich'n y r therein in which said key devicesrelll-D above said thin bars, and provided with a series oi slots and means to move the desired receptacle when the thin bars are moved to alignwith the slots in said card receptacle. i Y

6. A mechanical tiling and classifying machine comprising a plurality o't pivotally jointed groups of elements, a plurality ot thin bars, one carried by each ot said groups of elements, selectively operated means to move said groups oi' elements successively to carry said thin bars predetermined distances, card receptacles mounted above said thin bars and provided with a series ot vertical slots, a series ot horizontal slots opening into said vertical slots and horizontal cut-out portions at the lower ends ot those vertical slots, from which horizontal slots do not extend, and means to move the desired receptacle, when the thin bars are moved to align with the horizontal slots in said card receptacle Ior remain in position to align with the cut-out portions at the lower ends oil the vertical slots ol': said card receptacle.

7. A mechanical filing and classifying` machine comprising a plurality ot pivotally jointed groups of elements, wires connecting the upper ends ot said groups ot elements, means to move said groups oit elements, means to stop the movement ot said groups ot elements, operating key levers controlling the iirst-named means and actuating the second-named means to consecutively move said wires upwardly certain distances according to the designation ot they key lever operated, means to hold the said groups in the predetermined positions, card receptacles mounted above said wires and having a series of right-angled slots cut therein according to thedesignation of the card cai'- ried by each, and means to move the desired receptacle laterally when the wires are moved to align with the slots in the card receptacle.

8. A mechanical tiling and classifying machine comprising a plurality ot bellcranks, a second set of .bell-cranks opposite said iirst set ot bell-cranks, means' to connect opposite bell-cranks of said sets to move in pairs, wires connecting the upper ends of the bell-cranks in each of said pairs, receptacles above and at right angles to saidV wires and having vertical slots to tit over said wires and combinations of horizontal slots opening into said vertical slots, means to move said pairs of bell-'cranks consecutively to move said wires carried thereby certain distances upwardly, to align with a desired combination ot horizontal slots, and means to move the desired receptacle laterally.

9. A mechanical tiling and classifying machine comprising a plurality of pivoted groups ot trames, wires carried at the upper end of said groups of frames, receptacles above said wires and having slots therein to lreceive said wires and combinations oi slots at an angle to said firstnamed slots, means to move said groups of trames and the wires carried thereby consecutively predetermined and certain distances upwardly to align with a desired combination of said the desecond-named slots, means to move said resired receptacle laterally, cards in .ceptacles, and means to raise the card` from said laterally moved receptacle. e

10. A mechanical tiling and classifying machinecomprising a plurality of pivoted groups oit trames, wires carried at the upper end ot said groups ot frames, receptacles above said wires and having slots therein to receive said wires and combinations of slotsl at an angle to said iirst-nained slots, latches to lock said groups oit trames in normal position, spring means to move each of said trames to carry said Wires upwardly, means to release said latches to permit said spring means to act, means to limit the movement of said frames and wires and means to move the desired receptacle laterally when the proper wires meet the combination o'tl second-named slots therein, cards in said receptacles, and means to raise the card from said laterally moved receptacle and means to return said frames to normal position.

11. A mechanical iiling and classifying machine comprising a plurality ot pairs of pivotally mounted elements, Wires connecting the upperl pairs, rodsconnecting the lower endsot the elements of said pairs, spring means to move each oi' said rods, each of said rods having a nose of diiiierent height, a cross bar in con tact with said noses and locking the trames in position, a toothed latch engaging said bar, key levers actuating said latch at each operation, to lower said cross bar step-bystep and release said rods consecutively, means to limit ments and wires, according to the key lever depressed, receptacles above said wires and having slots at an angle to said first-named slots, means to move the desired receptacle laterally, when the proper wires meet the combination of the second-nained slots, cards in said receptacles and means to raise the card from said laterally moved receptacle and means to return the rods, the cross bar and the latch to normal position.

In witness whereof I aiiiX my signature.

RODOLFO GA SPARIK.

ends of the elements of saidy the movement ot said ele-V Cil 

